Master Negotiator

"Miss Amayah, I'll be honest with you: there's too much oil in these kinds of foods. It's not good for him. It'll only get in the way of Master Nolan's recuperation."

Amayah gaped worriedly, "Wh…What, then?"

"I remember that Master Nolan's meals are made according to the meal plans prepared by professional nutritionists." Dr. West asked.

Amayah understood his implication and answered, "Yes, but he doesn't like eating that. The meals taste so bland that even I, a healthy person, can't eat them."

Dr. West understood what she was trying to say. It was important for him to eat something rather than nothing.

Dr. West thought for a moment and then came up with a solution, "Could you whip up something for him from now on? If you agree, there's also an unused kitchen on this floor which you could utilize to make things easier for you."

What was this doctor saying? Was he suggesting that she cook dinner for Nolan every night?

She tittered nervously and turned to Nolan, who had been silent the whole time, as if all this had nothing to do with him. "Master Nolan, my working hours are not fixed, overtime is often guaranteed at the bakery, and usually metros take more time due to unreliable or infrequent service. Surely your dinner would come too late if I had to cook?"

It was clearly a plea in disguise: Don't agree with this idea!

Unfortunately for her, Nolan replied, "I can wait."

At least he wouldn't go without food for days and would eventually have something to eat. Even though he acted indifferent to the doctor, how could he fail to recognize that his friend was trying to help him.

Amayah gaped at him in surprise. Where did the stubborn and headstrong Master Nolan go?

Right after that, Dr. West took the opportunity to pass her a book. "Worry not, Miss Amayah, I've already prescribed a menu for him. All you need to do is follow the recipes here."

Amayah was stunned and gaped. 'Huh…what was this? Where did this cookbook suddenly come from? Did they plan everything in advance to trap her or what? Why were they so in cahoots with each other?'

Dismayed, Amayah could only accept her fate and took the book from him. This man was no mere doctor, he was also a master negotiator—they'd barely met, and he'd already gotten her to sign away her life and freedom!

"Miss Amayah?"

"I-Is there more…?" Amayah asked pensively. 'What other card was he going to pull out?'

Dr. West smiled in amusement at the way Amayah was watching him in trepidation. This girl was so innocent. "I shall take my leave now."

Hearing that, Amayah inwardly sighed in relief. "I'll see you out!" She said as she gestured with her hand for him to walk ahead.

The doctor didn't decline her offer and then left the room.

***

When Amayah returned to the room, the first thing she saw was the doctor's cookbook. She sighed softly.

"I'll have to warn you in advance that I'm not much of a cook," she informed Nolan bluntly. In fact, she cooked food for herself in the dorms since she had no one at home who could do it for her and eating out daily was also not convenient for her. However, she was the only one eating her food and anyone else hadn't tasted it, so she didn't dare to be overly confident in her culinary skills. So it was better if he didn't have many expectations from her food.

"Doesn't matter," Nolan replied coolly, "It can't be worse than what is served to me daily."

"Well, of course." Remembering the bland and tasteless food, Amayah realized that the bar hadn't been set that high. At least her food was edible enough that she was sure of.

She led Nolan to the food she'd brought him. "Tonight , you'll have to make do with this," she said, as she sat down to eat with him.

Amayah looked up from her plate when she was done eating and realized that Nolan was also done. She noticed a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth. Combined with that half-mohawk hairstyle he was sporting at that moment, he looked like a classic village fool. She had the sudden urge to burst out laughing. But she couldn't. If he heard it, he would very well flare at her again.

Without realizing she was doing it, she reached out and gently wiped the grain of rice away with her fingers.

The soft touch of her fingertips made Nolan's heart quiver. He frowned and snapped, "What are you doing?"

Seeing him angry, she hurriedly explained, "There was some rice in your face. I removed it for you."

Nolan froze as he thought, 'Another mistake accusation.'

"The next time you see something on my face, just tell me. Don't touch me without my permission." Nolan spoke as though she'd take advantage of him. Amayah couldn't resist taunting him: "Shall I return it to you?"

His face turned black as coal, and Amayah couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. Raising her hands in surrender she said, "I'm only joking! I'll prepare your bath for you."

The melodic sound of her laughter infuriated him, but also… invigorated him?

Leaving, she headed for the bathroom.

***

At night, they were both lying in their respective sleeping places, Nolan on the bed and Amayah on the couch.

She was lying on the couch, propping her back against the arm rest as she studied the cookbook that the doctor had given her.

Recalling how she'd agreed to the doctor's instructions, and now hearing her flipping through the book… For some reason, Nolan felt a sense of peace that he hadn't known before.